Speech on ‘Teenagers and Technology’


Now read this speech on the topic of technology in the lives of teenagers.


Ladies and gentlemen, I am speaking today because I believe teenagers should not be called ‘screenagers’. Most teenagers are not addicted to screens even though some adults think this is the case. Technology is an important part of our lives, but there is much more to us than just technology.


Opening – greet


your audience and introduce the topic you will be talking about


‘Addicted’ is a very strong word. It means you can’t give something up. Personally I could survive a week without seeing a screen. So I ask the adults here today, could you? When you call us ‘screenagers’, it makes us sound like zombies who have no control. As the legendary basketball player and coach, John Wooden, once said, ‘Young people need role models, not critics’. I often see adults sitting for hours with their heads buried in their devices. Until adults can exercise their own control over screens, it is unjust to generalise and call all teenagers such a demoralising word.


Recent research showed that 55 per cent of teenagers spend less time on their screens than their parents or other adults in their lives do. We need adults to act as role models and take responsibility for introducing screens to children.


quote used to support argument


statistic given;


Teenagers are interested in lots of things that have nothing to do with screens. I know that on a typical school day, I don’t have time for technology. I attend school, I do my homework, play either hurling or badminton, talk to my family and friends, eat, and often there is no time for anything else. I have an odd glance at my phone to see if anyone is trying to contact me, but that’s it. Teenagers are busy socialising, learning, playing and getting involved in community projects. It is estimated that 80 per cent of teenagers are involved in some kind of extracurricular activity. We are active. We are intelligent. We are aware. We do not deserve the demeaning nickname created by adults.


Adults need to trust us. They need to believe the future generation is more than just their smartphone. Teenagers such as Greta Thunberg and Millie Bobby Brown are proving this by becoming role models themselves. They are leading the way for adults and world leaders to take more action to do good in the world. We lead. We do. We are teenagers, not ‘screenagers’. Thanks you for listening to me.


162 FIRE & ICE 1


fi rst point made: teenagers don’t deserve to be criticised when adults are also using technology


second


point made: teenagers do


more than stare at their screens


Conclusion –


overall feelings are summed up


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